Derrick Lewis picked up the biggest win of his career this past July when he was awarded a split decision over Roy Nelson.
Friday night, the 31-year-old “Black Beast” can follow up that performance by taking care of Shamil Abdurakhimov in the main event of UFC Fight Night 102.
Despite the card airing only on UFC Fight Pass and not being a typical Saturday evening, the opportunity to headline shows that the UFC is willing to bet on Lewis – and even Abdurakhimov for that matter.
But this is about the former Legacy FC heavyweight champion and his chance to showcase himself to the masses.
Lewis has won four in a row, scoring finishes vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, Damian Grabowski and Viktor Pesta prior to his win over Nelson. Since signing with the UFC in 2014, he has put together a 7-2 record, dropping bouts to Shawn Jordan and Matt Mitrione.
And if you want someone who hates decisions, look no further than Lewis. Out of his 21 pro bouts, just three have gone to the scorecards. He owns 14 knockouts and a submission win to his credit.
If Lewis can pull off a fifth consecutive win, expect another interesting post-fight interview from him.